21 year-old pregnant woman burnt alive

Vijayapura : A 21-year-old pregnant woman was burnt alive by her family members for marrying outside her religion in Gundakanala village of Muddebihal taluk in Vijayapura district on Saturday night.

The deceased has been identified as Banu Begum. She had eloped to Goa with Sayabanna Sharanappa Konnur from Valimiki caste and married him. Konnur also sustained injuries in the ghastly incident and is battling for life in a hospital.

Banu and Konnur hail from the same village and had fallen in love. Banu’s family was against the relationship. The family members had lodged a case against Konnur under the Pocso Act with the Talikote police.

However, two days after lodging the complaint, Banu eloped with Konnur to Goa and both of them returned to the village four days ago, after getting married at the sub-registrar’s office in Muddebihal, police said.

After an enquiry, the police dropped Pocso case against Konnur. After coming to know of this, the relatives of Banu stabbed her and set her ablaze. They also assaulted Konnur and set him afire.

The police have arrested Banu’s mother, sister, brother-in-law and brother in connection with the incident.

Her two other elder sisters and brothers are absconding, DySP Prabhugouda Patil said.